What is NCIL?
The Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) is money that the Council can spend on infrastructure projects within the borough. These projects should help address the demands which development can place on local areas. When developers create new dwellings or retail space within the borough they usually pay a levy to the Council which can be used towards these improvements.
Further details on the Community Infrastructure Levy can be found on the governments CIL guidance page or by reading the CIL legislation.
What is the Neighbourhood Fund?
Within LBS, Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) is what we refer to as Neighbourhood Fund. The use isn’t any different; it is simply rebadged with a friendlier name.
What can we spend the Neighbourhood Fund on?
Projects might include the renovation of a community centre, planting of street trees or the installation of new play equipment. Projects must involve improving infrastructure which benefits the local community. Projects eligible for a Neighbourhood Fund allocation will be deliverable, value for money, supported by the community and will consider their impact on equality. They should also support Ambitious for Sutton priorities:
What can’t we spend the Neighbourhood Fund on?
As the fund is to address the demands of development this places a restriction on how we can spend it. Some of the things it doesn't fund are listed below, if you are in doubt please get in touch.
- Projects outside the London Borough of Sutton (unless the area is Sutton's shared responsibility)
- Projects with no clear plan for how they will benefit Sutton residents or help meet the demands of development
- Projects where a statutory agency would normally cover the cost
- Projects that do not offer the council value for money
- Political parties, lobbying and campaigning individuals
- Promotion of private interests
- Bus/car hire
- Loans or interest payments
- Legal expenses
- Promotion of religion
Community engagement
The CIL Regulations require councils to spend the Neighbourhood Fund on priorities agreed with the local community in areas where development has taken place. The consultation below is your chance to have your say and help us to improve your local neighbourhood.
Why do we want to hear from you?
We want to know what areas of improvement are most important to you and whether there are any projects you would like us to consider for funding. We hope that charitable and community organisations will submit projects they believe will improve their local area which we can provide the funding for. We are also keen to hear about improvements you think the Council could carry out. We will then use this information to establish our spending priorities for the borough.
How big is the fund?
As we are continuously collecting and spending the fund this is an ever changing amount, live details can be found on our Developer Contributions Database using the CIL tab and viewing the Neighbourhood CIL totals.
What happens next?
We will develop the priorities and project ideas from this consultation into a spending priorities list. This list will be used to inform Ward Councillors and Senior Management when deciding which projects to allocate Neighbourhood Fund money.